President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received the President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who was in the Turkmen capital. The Head of the OCA congratulated the Head of the state on the successful holding of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, which can rightfully be called a special contribution of our country to the international sports and Olympic movement. At the same time, it was stressed that the Olympic Council of Asia considered the neutral Turkmenistan as a reliable and responsible partner, with which it intended to continue to strengthen fruitful cooperation. Thanking for the kind words, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the Games ""Ashgabat 2017"" had for our country a truly historic significance. As the Turkmen leader stressed, Turkmenistan has done everything to ensure that the completed V Asian Games became a bright, unforgettable event, which would be remembered by all its participants as a grandiose holiday of sport, peace and friendship. Having stated with satisfaction the constructive nature of the interaction with the OCA, the Turkmen leader confirmed his intention to promote in every possible way the development of regional and international partnership in the sports sphere. During the conversation, the President of Turkmenistan and the Head of the Olympic Council of Asia exchanged views on the current areas of bilateral cooperation and prospects for its further continuation. As it was mentioned, the Asian games held in the Turkmen capital have become the largest in the history of the existence of these large competitions. Along with athletes from Asia, for the first time their participants were athletes from the countries of Oceania. The fact that almost one third of the world's states are represented on the Ashgabat Asian Games eloquently emphasizes their noble peacekeeping and humanistic mission, and also testifies to the growing authority of our country in the international arena. A clear confirmation of this is the participation of the Olympic refugee team in the 5th Asian Indoor and the Martial Arts Games, as well as the adoption of the Declaration ""On encouragement of the valuable contribution of the Olympic teams of refugees to the strengthening of peace and human rights"" on the initiative of the President of Turkmenistan at the 36th session of the UN Council on Human Rights. In this regard, the guest expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Head of the state for the excellent organization of the Games. Created in the capital's Olympic city, the most comfortable conditions for the competitions, supermodern equipment of this universal complex and of course, the warm welcome given to the Asian Games' participants in hospitable Turkmenistan ensured the successful performances of the athletes. It was also noted that the strategy, initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to stimulate and purposefully support the sport, determined the impressive achievements of Turkmen athletes, from the first days of the 5th Asian Games leading in the general medal event. This success has raised the prestige of national sports to new heights. It is also noteworthy that the Games of ""Ashgabat 2017"" became the subject of the attention of the world media, numerous representatives of which have not only promptly covered the Asian Games, but also prepared reports and various materials about our country. At the end of the meeting, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the Head of the Olympic Council of Asia Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah expressed confidence in the further active development of fruitful partnership.